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Southend United’s Shrimper’s Trust Podcast Hustings
- James Miller
- May 6
- 6 min read
The Shrimpers Trust held a hustings between the leaders of the parties locally.
This hour-long podcast contains interviews with the following group leaders and candidates:
Confelicity - James Miller, Southchurch Ward candidate
Conservative - Cllr James Courtenay, Chalkwell Ward
Green Party - Cllr Stuart Allen, Leigh Ward; Lauren Ekins, Belfairs Ward candidate
Labour - Cllr Daniel Cowan, St. Laurence Ward
Liberal Democrats - Cllr Paul Collins, Eastwood Park Ward
Reform - Cllr Tony Cox, West Shoebury Ward
They asked four questions, which I have laid out with my answers below. It should be noted that the Confelicity Party has not taken a vote on the questions, therefore the answers I have provided are my own opinions.
The links to the podcast can be found at the end of this blog.
1. If you are elected to Southend on Sea City Council, what can you do to help protect and preserve the long-term success and sustainability of Southend United?
“As a Southend resident, born and bred, I was brought up watching Southend United and remember being a ball-boy for them. I don't get to watch as many games as I would like these days, but I follow their progress and even though we didn’t win, I felt lucky to have been part of something special at the Wembley play off last season. The atmosphere was something else and that’s why the club can succeed.
We've come a long way in such a short space of time, and I don't think we can thank Justin Rees and the shareholders enough. A football club is a risky business at whatever level and knowing that we have owners that love our club is very reassuring and gives us all hope. Yet, they are all business-people and will already be taking countless decisions to ensure the preservation of the club. As a businessman myself, there will be a lot of hard decisions to take, especially when the business itself is such an important part of the local community. The truth is only they can drive the club forward.
The best thing a council can do is stay out the way and let the business people make the right decisions. They are risking their own money and no one more than them will want to make it work.
I do not think it is for the council to get involved directly because councils have almost no expertise in running businesses. Any formal involvement will put the club into the political sphere and potentially used (sorry for the pun) as a political football for future administrations - which is already the case. Will that future administration dictate terms according to their political agenda or will the club be left alone to make its decisions? Political parties and football clubs have completely different end goals. One wants to win football matches and the other votes and power. For a partnership to truly have a chance goals need to be aligned and this is where everything can go wrong.
I heard it announced on social media that Southend Labour want to enter into a Joint Venture in regard to Roots Hall, and as much as that may sound positive, there are so many unanswered questions as to how that would work.
Last time I heard Southend Council were in £350 million of debt and struggling to keep the street lights on, so I don’t know how this is realistic.
In saying all this, I would remain open minded until the detail is known.
Questions I’d ask are:
How much?
What’s the risk to Southend United?
What’s the risk to the council?
What’s the financial benefit to residents?
What clauses are there to escape the partnership if all goes wrong?
What happens if Southend United go bankrupt?
What happens if the council go bankrupt?
I sound quite negative about it, but until I see the details it is difficult to know whether to support such a decision. If you look at the council’s track record it is quite alarming, and I would worry for the future of the club if its future were dependent on Southend council. I say again, that political and football goals are not aligned and if there were a decision for the political party to win votes by sacrificing the club, I am sure they would do it knowing, as I do, just how brutal the political environment is.”
2. The redevelopment of Roots Hall stadium, which is so pivotal for Southend United’s continuing existence, would be plunged into doubt without the proposed flow of money from the planned residential development at Fossetts Farm to the football club. What will you be doing to help get the Fossetts Farm development through, if anything?
“Without having any access to contracts and current agreements it is impossible to say what I would do. I am unaware of what barriers are preventing the development getting through, but would of course do everything in our power to make sure it does without putting Southend United and Southend Council at risk.
I am confident that the Southend United board will have contingency plans if the Fossetts development stalls. Their recent acquisition of the now Blue Eagle is one example, and they will be looking at many other revenue streams. When I attended their presentation at the Cliff’s Pavilion I remember walking away thinking that is a first class team with the intelligence and passion to get this done.
I think they are dealing with very difficult stakeholders with Fossetts, and as I say, the best thing the council can do is get out the way and make it easy for them, whilst not putting the council finances at risk.”
3.Essex’s Local Government Reorganisation is set to take effect fully from April 2028. Do you see this impacting the Fossetts Farm plans or the ability/willingness of local government to work with Southend United? If so, how?
“I am completely against LGR as I believe it will have a significant impact on how local we will remain. Right now, as much as we might dislike a particular councillor, at least they are contactable and they are very aware of the issues. Southend United will become just one of many teams, rather than the central focus of our city as is the case now. As a result, whoever is looking after this area will unlikely have the knowledge or passion to make sure we are taking care of in the right way.
In regards to how it will affect Fossetts, I think it could slow things down dramatically. The upheaval internally for all the councils will continue for years to come and the day-to-day running will be severely disrupted. We don’t yet know how many people are going to lose their jobs and which departments will be merged or lost. It couldn’t really come at a worse time and if I had a choice I would revoke it. Residents did not have a chance to vote for this so it was entirely undemocratic. I do not buy into the “it was in the manifesto” line. Most people do not read manifestos and the public consultation was a tick box exercise rather than a real request for our views.
In the end though, like anything, structure is one thing, but it is the people in charge that will really make the difference. I think we have to hope those people will be up to the task.”
4.What are your long-term aspirations for Southend United and its role in the city?
“As a party whose primary purpose is Southend, I would hope one day that our team would be full of Southend (or local) born and bred players. I was once an aspiring footballer and the route to becoming a professional was not clear (even though I would not have made it anyway!). I would love a way where Southend United was partnered with every club in the local area and they were essentially a breeding ground for the next generation of footballers. I know it happens to a degree already, but there are thousands of kids out there and I feel confident that with the right facilities and coaches we could find at least eleven that could make it!
In saying that, now is most important, and we must somehow get out of this league. The fanbase is phenomenal and with plans to improve Roots Hall, I believe we have a great future ahead. Confelicity is a party made up of local residents, so no one can be more enthusiastic than us in doing everything we can to ensure a great future for the club.”
The podcast can be found here:
The podcast is available across major platforms, so listen away!:
For more information on the Southend-on-Sea Council 2026 election, please visit: https://www.southend.gov.uk/elections
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